Drug Poisoning Mortality Trends in the Scandinavian Countries 1961–1973

1977 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 115-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kari Poikolainen
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Drug Control ◽  
Accidental Poisoning ◽  
Mortality Trends ◽  
Fatal Poisoning ◽  
Drug Poisoning ◽  
Undetermined Intent ◽  
Classification Category ◽  
Drug Poisoning Mortality

Poisoning mortality rates have increased considerably in Denmark and Sweden, slightly in Norway, and remained essentially the same in Finland, during the period 1961 to 1973. In the present study, fatal poisoning included cases of intoxication by solid or liquid substances classified as suicidal, accidental (alcohol poisonings excepted) or of undetermined intent. From 1961 to 1973 poisoning mortality rates increased in Sweden by about 200%, in Denmark by about 100%, and in Norway by about 50%. In males, the age-standardized mortality rates were: in Denmark and Sweden, about 130; in Finland, about 70, and in Norway, about 30 cases per one million of population in 1972. The corresponding figures for females were 125, 75, 40 and 20. Despite this overall rise, rates of suicidal poisoning mortality and mortality from accidental poisoning have decreased in Sweden since 1969. From this year onwards, the classification category ‘undetermined poisoning’ has been used and the decreases in other categories are compensated by an increase in this group. On the basis of the scanty data available, the substances most frequently responsible for fatal poisoning are drugs (in particular barbiturates), other soporifics, and tranquillizers. There is some evidence that poisoning mortality is correlated with the prevalence of drug use and could consequently be reduced by drug control.

Social Benefits and Social Costs of Drug Control Laws

1978 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Kramer
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Social Costs ◽  
Drug Control ◽  
Social Benefits ◽  
Black Markets ◽  
Control Laws ◽  
Benefits And Costs ◽  
Levels Of Control

While drug control laws tend to reduce the incidence of drug use, their enforcement is not without cost to society. Among the most obvious costs is the development of black markets in drugs and the criminalization of users. Modest control laws can substantially reduce drug use without incurring serious social costs. However, increasing the severity of control laws adds less and less to the benefits achieved and more and more to the costs to society. Ultimately the costs outweigh the benefits. We should aim for optimum levels of control by weighing both the benefits and costs of our drug control laws.

scholarly journals Descriptive-epidemiological characteristics of lung cancer in Serbia

2008 ◽  
Vol 61 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 16-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasa Maksimovic ◽  
Kyriakos Spanopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Direct Method ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Malignant Tumour ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Malignant Tumours ◽  
Mortality Trends ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics

Introduction. Lung cancer represents the most common malignant tumour among men, and appears more and more frequently among women in many countries worldwide. The aims of this descriptive epidemiological study were to evaluate the mortality trends of all malignant tumours and lung cancer in Central Serbia from 1990 to 1999, and to estimate the incidence, mortality and the basic demographic characteristics of lung cancer in Central Serbia in 1999. Material and methods. The source of data concerning cancer cases in 1999 was the Cancer Registry of Central Serbia, while data of the Republic Statistics Institute were used for the analysis of mortality trends for the period 1990-1999. All rates were standardized by the direct method, to the world standard population. Confidence intervals for mortality rates were assessed with 95% level of probability. Linear regression coefficient was determined by Fisher's test. Results. The mortality rates showed rising tendencies for both lung cancer (y=-1876.26+0.96x, p=0.028 for men; y=654.78U).33x, p-0.001 for women) and all malignant tumours (y=-4139.88+2.15x, p=0.163 for men; y=3649.68 + 1.88x, p=0.016 for women), with statistically significant increase being observed for all trends, except all malignant tumours among men. In the year 1999, lung cancer ranked first among men and third among women, with 29.2% and 10.3% of cancer mortality respectively. The age-specific mortality rates were much higher in men in all age groups. Mortality increased with age and the highest rates were found in the age group 70-74 for both sexes. The highest incidence and mortality rates were reported in Belgrade, Moravicki and Sumadijski district. .

scholarly journals Age- and Sex-Specific In-Hospital Mortality after Myocardial Infarction in Routine Clinical Practice

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chizobam Ani ◽  
Deyu Pan ◽  
David Martins ◽  
Bruce Ovbiagele
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Length Of Hospital Stay ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Mortality Trends ◽  
Male Mortality ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Age And Sex

Background. Literature regarding the influence of age/sex on mortality trends for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) hospitalizations is limited to hospitals participating in voluntary AMI registries.Objective. Evaluate the impact of age and sex on in-hospital AMI mortality using a nationally representative hospital sample.Methods. Secondary data analysis using AMI hospitalizations identified from the Nationwide-Inpatient-Sample (NIS). Descriptive and Cox proportional hazards analysis explored mortality trends by age and sex from 1997–2006 while adjusting for the influence of, demographics, co-morbidity, length of hospital stay and hospital characteristics.Results. From 1997–2006, in-hospital AMI mortality rates decreased across time in all subgroups (), except for males aged <55 years. The greatest decline was observed in females aged <55 years, compared to similarly aged males, mortality outcomes were poorer in 1997-1998 (RR 1.47, 95% CI  =  1.30–1.66), when compared with 2005-2006 (RR 1.03, 95% CI  =  0.90–1.18), adjusted value for trend demonstrated a statistically significant decline in the relative AMI mortality risk for females when compared with males (<0.001).Conclusion. Over the last decade, in-hospital AMI mortality rates declined for every age/sex group except males <55 years. While AMI female-male mortality disparity has narrowed, some room for improvement remains.

scholarly journals Premature Mortality in Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Liang ◽  
Emmalin Buajitti ◽  
Laura Rosella
Keyword(s):  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Vital Statistics ◽  
Income Quintile ◽  
Mortality Trends ◽  
Premature Deaths ◽  
Central Canada ◽  
Over Time

Introduction: Premature mortality (deaths before age 75) is a well-established metric of population health and health system performance. In Canada, underlying differences between provinces/territories present a need for stratified mortality trends. Methods: Using data from the Canadian Vital Statistics Database, a descriptive analysis of sex-specific adult premature deaths over 1992-2015 was conducted by province, census divisions (CD), socioeconomic status (SES), age, and underlying cause of death. Premature mortality rates were calculated as the number of deaths per 100,000 individuals aged 18 to 74, per 8-year era. SES was measured using the income quintile of the neighbourhood of residence. Absolute and relative inequalities were respectively summarized using slope and relative indices of inequality, produced via unadjusted linear regression of the mortality rate on income rank. Results: Premature mortality in Canada declined by 21% for males and 13% for females between 1992-1999 and 2008-2015. The greatest reductions were in Central Canada, while Newfoundland saw notable increases. CD-level improvements appeared mostly in the southern half of Canada. As of 2008-2015, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Nunavut had the highest mortality rates. Low area-level income was associated with higher mortality. SES inequalities grew over time. Newfoundland’s between-quintile differences rose from 1292 to 2389 deaths per 100k males, or 1.33 to 2.12-fold, and 586 to 1586 per 100k females, or 1.24 to 1.74-fold. In 2008-2015, mortality rates of the bottom quintile in Manitoba and Saskatchewan were more than 2.5 times those of the top. Mortality increased with age, and varied regionally. Low mortality in Central Canada and BC, and high mortality in the Territories were consistent across eras and sexes. Cause of death distributions shifted with age and sex, with more external deaths in younger males. Conclusion: Improvements were seen in adult premature mortality rates over time, but were unequal across geographies. Evidence exists for growing socioeconomic disparities in mortality.

scholarly journals Mortality from external causes in Russia over half a century

2015 ◽  
pp. 85-108
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Kvasha ◽  
Tatiana Kharkova ◽  
Valeriy Yumaguzin
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Causes Of Death ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Large Contribution ◽  
Mortality Trends ◽  
Undetermined Intent ◽  
External Causes Of Death ◽  
Excess Number ◽  
External Causes

The article discusses long-term mortality trends (since 1956) from external causes of death in Russia. Russia has long lagged behind developed countries in this domain. The level of mortality from external causes of death remains high and its structure is still archaic with large contribution of homicides, alcohol poisoning and injuries of undetermined intent. Excess number of deaths from life tables of Russia and Western European countries is compared. It is shown that in Russia the greatest excess losses are associated with mortality from poisonings among both sexes, suicide among men and homicide among women. Mortality from external causes, along with mortality from diseases of the circulatory system, has had a significant impact on life expectancy. In general, over the period 1956-2012 the increase in mortality from external causes in the 15-64 age group reduced life expectancy by 2.6 years for males and 0.7 years for females. The decline, starting in 2003, of mortality from external causes of death has slightly reduced the gap between Russia and developed countries, bringing the current Russian level closer to those levels reached in Russia in the mid-1960s and 1980s. However, given the fluctuations of mortality from external causes, it is premature to say whether the current decline in mortality is robust.

scholarly journals Fatal opioid overdoses during and shortly after hospital admissions in England: A case-crossover study

PLoS Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. e1003759
Author(s):  
Dan Lewer ◽  
Brian Eastwood ◽  
Martin White ◽  
Thomas D. Brothers ◽  
Martin McCusker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Crossover Study ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Conditional Logistic Regression ◽  
Early Discharge ◽  
Odds Ratios ◽  
Drug Poisoning ◽  
Case Crossover ◽  
Increased Risk

Background Hospital patients who use illicit opioids such as heroin may use drugs during an admission or leave the hospital in order to use drugs. There have been reports of patients found dead from drug poisoning on the hospital premises or shortly after leaving the hospital. This study examines whether hospital admission and discharge are associated with increased risk of opioid-related death. Methods and findings We conducted a case-crossover study of opioid-related deaths in England. Our study included 13,609 deaths between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2019 among individuals aged 18 to 64. For each death, we sampled 5 control days from the period 730 to 28 days before death. We used data from the national Hospital Episode Statistics database to determine the time proximity of deaths and control days to hospital admissions. We estimated the association between hospital admission and opioid-related death using conditional logistic regression, with a reference category of time neither admitted to the hospital nor within 14 days of discharge. A total of 236/13,609 deaths (1.7%) occurred following drug use while admitted to the hospital. The risk during hospital admissions was similar or lower than periods neither admitted to the hospital nor recently discharged, with odds ratios 1.03 (95% CI 0.87 to 1.21; p = 0.75) for the first 14 days of an admission and 0.41 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.56; p < 0.001) for days 15 onwards. 1,088/13,609 deaths (8.0%) occurred in the 14 days after discharge. The risk of opioid-related death increased in this period, with odds ratios of 4.39 (95% CI 3.75 to 5.14; p < 0.001) on days 1 to 2 after discharge and 2.09 (95% CI 1.92 to 2.28; p < 0.001) on days 3 to 14. 11,629/13,609 deaths (85.5%) did not occur close to a hospital admission, and the remaining 656/13,609 deaths (4.8%) occurred in hospital following admission due to drug poisoning. Risk was greater for patients discharged from psychiatric admissions, those who left the hospital against medical advice, and those leaving the hospital after admissions of 7 days or more. The main limitation of the method is that it does not control for time-varying health or drug use within individuals; therefore, hospital admissions coinciding with high-risk periods may in part explain the results. Conclusions Discharge from the hospital is associated with an acute increase in the risk of opioid-related death, and 1 in 14 opioid-related deaths in England happens in the 2 weeks after the hospital discharge. This supports interventions that prevent early discharge and improve linkage with community drug treatment and harm reduction services.

scholarly journals Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality Trends by Sex and Population Group in South Africa: 2002-2014.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lactatia Matsie Motsuku ◽  
Wenlong Carl Chen ◽  
Mazvita Molleen Muchengeti ◽  
Tamlyn Mac Quene ◽  
Patricia Kellett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Black Males ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Black Population ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
P Value ◽  
Mortality Trends ◽  
Population Groups ◽  
Incidence And Mortality

Abstract BackgroundSouth Africa (SA) has experienced a rapid transition in the Human Development Index (HDI) over the past decade, which had an effect on the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aims to provide CRC incidence and mortality trends by population group and sex in SA from 2002 to 2014.MethodsIncidence data were extracted from the South African National Cancer Registry and mortality data obtained from Statistics South Africa (STATS SA), for the period 2002 to 2014. Age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR) and age-standardised mortality rates (ASMR) were calculated using the STATS SA mid-year population as the denominator and the Segi world standard population data for standardisation. A Joinpoint regression analysis was computed for the CRC ASIR and ASMR by population group and sex.ResultsA total of 33,232 incident CRC cases and 26,836 CRC deaths were reported during the study period. Of the CRC cases reported, 54% were males and 46% were females, and among deaths reported, 47% were males and 53% were females. Overall, there was a 2.5% annual average percentage change (AAPC) increase in ASIR from 2002 to 2014 (95% CI: 0.6- 4.5, p-value <0.001). For ASMR overall, there was 1.3% increase from 2002 to 2014 (95% CI: 0.1- 2.6, p-value <0.001). The ASIR and ASMR among population groups were stable, with the exception of the Black population group. The ASIR increased consistently at 4.3% for black males (95% CI: 1.9- 6.7, p-value <0.001) and 3.4% for black females (95% CI: 1.5- 5.3, p-value <0.001) from 2002 to 2014, respectively. Similarly, ASMR for black males and females increased by 4.2% (95% CI: 2.0- 6.5, p-value <0.001) and 3.4% (, 95%CI: 2.0- 4.8, p-value <0.01) from 2002 to 2014, respectively.ConclusionsThe disparities in the CRC incidence and mortality trends may reflect socioeconomic inequalities across different population groups in SA. The rapid increase in CRC trends among the Black population group is concerning and requires further investigation and increased efforts for cancer prevention, early screening and diagnosis, as well as better access to cancer treatment.

The Stimulus of Prohibition: A Critical History of the Global Narcotics Trade

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred W. McCoy
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Control Program ◽  
The United States ◽  
Drug Control ◽  
White House ◽  
National Drug ◽  
The U.S

The current war on drugs being waged by the United States and United Nations rests upon a fundamental misunderstanding of the global nar­cotics traffic. In 1998, for example, the White House issued a National Drug Con­trol Strategy, proclaiming a 10-year program “to reduce illegal drug use and avail­ability 50 percent by the year 2007,” thereby achieving “the lowest recorded drug-use rate in American history.” To this end, the U.S. program plans to reduce foreign drug cultivation, shipments from source countries like Colombia, and smuggling in key transit zones. Although this strategy promises a balanced attack on both supply and demand, its ultimate success hinges upon the complete eradi­cation of the international supply of illicit drugs. “Eliminating the cultivation of il­licit coca and opium,” the document says in a revealing passage, “is the best ap­proach to combating cocaine and heroin availability in the U.S.” (U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy 1998: 1, 23, 28). Similarly, in 1997 the new head of the United Nations Drug Control Program, Dr. Pino Arlacchi, announced a 10-year program to eradicate all illicit opium and coca cultivation, starting in Afghanistan. Three years later, in the United Nation’s World Drug Report 2000, he defended prohibition’s feasibility by citing China as a case where “comprehensive narcotics control strategies . . . succeeded in eradicat­ing opium between 1949 and 1954”— ignoring the communist coercion that al­lowed such success. Arlacchi also called for an “end to the psychology of despair” that questions drug prohibition, and insisted that this policy can indeed produce “the eradication of coca and opium poppy production.” Turning the page, however, the reader will find a chart showing a sharp rise in world opium production from 500 tons in 1981 to 6,000 tons in 2000— a juxtaposition that seems to challenge Ar-lacchi’s faith in prohibition (Bonner 1997; Wren 1998a, 1998b; United Nations 2000d, 1–2, 24). Examined closely, the United States and United Nations are pur­suing a drug control strategy whose success requires not just the reduction but also the total eradication of illicit narcotics cultivation from the face of the globe. Like the White House, the United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP) re­mains deeply, almost theologically committed to the untested proposition that the prohibition of cultivation is an effective response to the problem of illicit drugs.

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